Abstract: A charging device may include firmware configured to execute and control charging functions and updating functions performed by the charging device. The firmware includes a first section configured to store instructions associated with the charging functions and a second section configured to store instructions associated with updating the first section. The charging device may also include a charging slot for insertion of one of a rechargeable device and an updating device. The charging device may further include a micro-controller configured to execute instructions stored on the firmware. Responsive to the updating device being inserted into the charging slot, the charging device executes instructions stored in the second section to enter an updating mode and update the firmware.

Abstract: Described is a communication device which includes a receiver receiving a multicast communication including audio data and identification data identifying an initiator of the multicast communication, a memory, an audio output, a processor processing the multicast communication, sending the processed audio data to the audio output to be played to a user, sending the identification data to the memory to be stored and initiating a unicast communication with the initiator based on the identification data and a transmitter transmitting the unicast communication to the initiator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to gate an ultrasonic emitter operation includes a housing including the ultrasonic emitter, where the ultrasonic emitter is operable to periodically transmit an ultrasonic pulse of a predefined frequency. A microphone circuit is disposed in the housing, such that the microphone circuit is operable to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal derived from the transmitted ultrasonic pulse. A controller is coupled to the emitter and the microphone circuit, where the controller operable to gate the operation of the emitter to an OFF state based on at least one measured parameter of the reflected ultrasonic signal. The parameters can include a Doppler measurement and a distance measurement.

Abstract: A sectionable keyboard is described. A mobile device including the keyboard includes a processor. A memory is coupled to the processor. A software application capable of executing on the processor is stored in the memory. The keyboard is coupled to the processor and provides input from the user. The keyboard includes a plurality of keys that is separated into a plurality of sections. Each section includes a multiple of physically adjacent keys such that a selection of the input is chosen when two or more of the physically adjacent keys in each section are activated simultaneously. The physically adjacent keys in each of the sections correspond to a different input.

Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging targets to be read over a range of working distances. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain values of the default imager are set to predetermined values based on the determined light intensity level. If the target is not decoded by the default imager, then the exposure and/or gain values of another imager are set to predetermined values based on the exposure and/or gain values that were previously set for the default imager.

Abstract: A field replaceable desiccant cartridge and device, method and system there for is provided. The cartridge comprises: a housing comprising an insertion end configured to removabley mate with an aperture of a device, the insertion end configured to generally prevent moisture from entering the device when mated; a desiccant located in the housing; a circuit located within the housing, the circuit in contact with the desiccant, the circuit configured to change resistance as the desiccant changes in moisture content; one or more electrodes located at an exterior of the insertion end, the one or more electrodes in contact with the circuit; and, one or more holes through the insertion end, configured to expose the desiccant to an exterior of the housing so that the desiccant can absorb moisture there from. Devices configured with the cartridge can report moisture levels to a server, which can track problems associated with moisture in the devices.

Abstract: An imaging lens assembly for an imaging reader includes a base lens having an optical power, a target side facing a target, and an imager side facing an imager. An aperture stop directly contacts the imager side and has an aperture through which return light from the target passes. The aperture is magnified in apparent size by the optical power of the base lens to form a magnified entrance pupil as seen through the target side. A variable focus liquid lens focuses the return light captured by the magnified entrance pupil over an extended range of working distances onto the imager. The magnified entrance pupil captures more of the return light from the target to pass through the base lens and the liquid lens to the imager, and also allows the target to be illuminated with a lower brightness to conserve electrical power.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for operating a handheld barcode scanner in a presentation mode are provided. The apparatus includes an upright stand having a lower end for placement adjacent to a work surface, and an opposing upper end. The apparatus includes a lower mirror, an upper mirror and a dock all supported by the stand. The dock holds the handheld barcode scanner between the lower mirror and a scan volume above the work surface to define a first beam path segment between the handheld barcode scanner and the lower mirror. The upper mirror defines a second beam path segment between the upper mirror and the lower mirror, and a third beam path segment between the upper mirror and the scan volume. The first, the second and the third beam path segments define a beam path between the handheld scanner and the scan volume.

Abstract: An imaging sensor of an imaging reader senses return light from a target to be read by image capture along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, horizontal and vertical axes. Two aiming light assemblies are offset from the sensor, and direct an aiming light pattern at the target. The pattern has an aiming mark in a central area of the pattern, and a pair of aiming light lines that are collinear along the horizontal axis. The visibility of the aiming mark is enhanced by optically configuring the aiming mark to be different in brightness relative to a remaining area of the pattern by specially configuring aiming lenses with regions of different optical power to forte each aiming light line of non-uniform brightness. The aiming mark of enhanced visibility constitutes a prominent visual indicator of a center zone of the field of view.

Abstract: A device may include a memory for storing a set of instructions associated with at least one of an orientation and a position of the device. The device may also include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver for pairing the device with a second device. A processor in the device determines that the device is paired with the second device via the NFC transceiver; determines at least one of the orientation and the position of the device; and executes the set of instructions associated with at least one of the determined orientation and position of the device.

Abstract: Signal interference is automatically avoided between product proximity subsystems that emit signals through mutually facing presentation windows of different workstations. A magnetometer in each workstation determines a direction faced by a respective presentation window. A controller in each workstation controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a first signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a first direction, and controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a different second signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a different second direction.

Abstract: A compact optical arrangement splits the field of view of an upwardly-looking imager into a plurality of intersecting subfields along which return light from a target passes through and past an upright window to the imager. A top mirror is positioned along a vertical axis directly above the imager. Overhead mirror portions located between the imager and the top mirror are spaced radially apart to enable the return light reflected by the top mirror to bypass the overhead mirror portions and pass unobstructedly directly to the imager along a central subfield. A plurality of side fold mirrors reflects the return light passing through the upright window to the overhead mirror portions. The overhead mirror portions are positioned apart to enable the return light reflected by the side fold mirrors to pass to the imager along a pair of outer subfields.

Abstract: An eMMC functionality expander, and methods there for, are provided herein. For example, provided herein is a device comprising: a first processor; a multimedia card memory (“eMMC”); a second processor; a client eMMC interface between the second processor and the first processor; a host eMMC interface between the second processor and the eMMC; and an NVRAM (“Non-Volatile Random Access Memory”) in communication with the second processor, the second processor configured to manage data storage to the eMMC and the NVRAM so that the eMMC and the NVRAM appears as a single storage device to the first processor. The NVRAM can also be used to provide communication between the first processor and a slave processor. Furthermore, the NVRAM can store boot data, and the like, to decrease the boot times of the processors and the boot time of the device.

Abstract: A non-parametric method of, and system for, dimensioning an object of arbitrary shape, captures a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of data points over a field of view containing the object and a base surface on which the object is positioned, detects a base plane indicative of the base surface from the point cloud, extracts the data points of the object from the point cloud, processes the extracted data points of the object to obtain a convex hull, and fits a bounding box of minimum volume to enclose the convex hull. The bounding box has a pair of mutually orthogonal planar faces, and the fitting is performed by orienting one of the faces to be generally perpendicular to the base plane, and by simultaneously orienting the other of the faces to be generally parallel to the base plane.

Abstract: A trigger assembly including a cylindrical pivot shaft having a pivot-shaft longitudinal axis; a trigger key having a front face, a back face opposite the front face, an actuator extending from the back face, and a trigger-key longitudinal axis, wherein the a first end on the of the trigger key has a plurality of through holes arranged to receive the cylindrical pivot shaft; a trigger-key support having an aperture for the actuator to pass through, the trigger-key support further having a plurality of pivot-shaft supports, wherein each pivot-shaft support includes a concave surface configured to receive the cylindrical pivot shaft; and a trigger bezel having a plurality of substantially flat surfaces positioned to constrain the pivot shaft in opposition to the plurality of pivot-shaft supports, wherein the substantially flat surfaces are located at different positions along the pivot-shaft longitudinal axis than are the pivot-shaft supports.

Abstract: A data capture terminal for, and a method of, processing a plurality of data and a symbol arranged at spaced-apart locations on a target, such as a parcel delivery label, employ a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors for capturing return light from the data and the symbol on the target over a field of view, an actuator for actuating the imager to capture the return light from the data and the symbol on the target in a single actuation, and a controller operatively connected to the actuator and the imager, for processing the return light captured by the imager from the plurality of data and the symbol. The terminal is customized by a user program that advises the controller of user-selected parameters and conditions under which the processing of the return light is to be performed.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a laser source emitting a laser scanning beam, a movable scanning mirror reflecting the laser scanning beam towards an on object to be scanned, a mirror moving element moving the movable scanning mirror and a controller receiving an input corresponding to a range estimate from the scanning device to the object and adjusting a setting of the scanning device based on the range estimate.

Abstract: A workstation electro-optically reads targets by image capture, and includes a housing, a generally planar window, an imaging module, and a generally planar fold mirror between the window and the module. The module has an illuminating light assembly for directing illumination light along an illumination path through the window at a target for return therefrom during reading, and an image sensing assembly for detecting return illumination light through the window along an imaging path over an imaging field of view during reading. The fold mirror folds the illumination and the imaging paths. The fold mirror and the window lie in planes that are substantially parallel to each other to prevent reflections of the illumination light off of the fold mirror and the window from entering the imaging field of view as virtual images that degrade target detection by the image sensing assembly.